Beat SCAD, the UK charity that supports research into the rare cardiac condition, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is urging medical professionals to learn more about the condition ahead of its third conference on Saturday 9 June 2018 from 10:00 – 17:30 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
The conference is an opportunity for SCAD patients, and their families, friends and supporters, to hear from an expert panel about the latest research into their condition. It also provides an opportunity for medical professionals to update their knowledge on this little understood disease.
SCAD can cause heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrest and can be fatal. A tear or bruise develops in a coronary artery, resulting in a blockage that prevents normal blood flow.
Dr David Adlam, interventional cardiologist at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and lead for the UK SCAD Research Project said: “What is striking about patients with SCAD is that they are not your typical heart attack patients – they are younger, predominantly female and don’t have the usual risk factors such as being overweight or presenting with type 2 diabetes.
“When they come into hospital they can be misdiagnosed. Patients with heart attacks caused by SCAD do not respond to treatment in the same way as patients with more ‘routine’ heart attacks.”
At the conference, Dr Adlam, will explain how research across Europe and the world has changed what is known about SCAD, including whether SCAD is an inherited condition, as is being explored through the UK Study.
He will be joined by Dr Abi Al-Hussaini, consultant cardiologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, who will talk about her research. Dr Alice Wood, clinical research fellow at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, will then speak about the importance of studying sub-groups, such as men with SCAD and those who have had recurrent SCADs, which helps to add missing information to the research jigsaw puzzle.
Rebecca Breslin from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is the Chair of the Trustees of Beat SCAD. Ms Breslin initiated the research following her SCAD in 2012. She said: “We are very pleased that Dr Adlam, Dr Al-Hussaini and Dr Wood are presenting at the conference.
“Many SCAD patients struggle to find medical staff who understand SCAD and the best treatment protocols, so being able to hear from and talk to SCAD experts has a massively positive impact on them.”
Debbie Oliver, SCAD Trustee said: “Our aim with this conference is to answer patients’ SCAD questions, educate, inform and inspire them with all that life after SCAD has to offer.
“Meeting other people who have ‘been there’ and ‘get it’ is invaluable for all rare disease patients, no matter how long ago they had their event. Family and friends also need support so the conference is an ideal opportunity to meet people who understand something about what those affected by SCAD are living with.”
For more information visit http://beatscad.org.uk/conference-2018.
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Notes for editors
Watch a video created by the British Heart Foundation about the SCAD research at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre.
Beat SCAD is a patient-led charity established to raise awareness of SCAD, provide support to patients and others affected by SCAD, and raise money to fund research into SCAD. The charity has so far donated £28,000 to help fund the patient-initiated SCAD research at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, led by Dr David Adlam. www.beatscad.org.uk
Beat SCAD Registered Charity Number 1164066